Neck and head protector for mounting on safety helmets

ABSTRACT

A NECK-PROTECTIVE SHIELD THAT CAN BE REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON HEAD-PROTECTIVE HELMETS. A TRANSPARENT FACE-PROTECTIVE SHIELD THAT CAN BE REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE NECKPROTECTIVE SHIELD.

11511411971 HARAS HKE 3,551,910

NECK AND HEAD PROTECTION FOR MOUNTING ON SAFETY HELMETS Filed Nov. 12,1968 INVENTOR. I HERBERT A. RASCHKE BY Wa ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,551,910 NECK AND HEAD PROTECTOR FOR MOUNTING 0N SAFETY HELMETS HerbertA. Rasclike, Greenbrae, Califi, assignor to E. D. Bullard Company,Sausalito, Calif. Filed Nov. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 774,650 Int. Cl. A42b3/00 U.S. Cl. 2-3 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A neck-protectiveshield that can be removably mounted on head-protective helments. Atransparent face-protective shield that can be removably mounted on theneckprotective shield.

This invention relates to head protection for peace officers, and moreparticularly to attachments for helmets that afford protection of theneck and face when installed on the helmets.

Protection for the top of the head is afforded by many types ofpresently available helmets. The protection afforded by such helmets isadequate in most situations, but in certain activities additionalprotection is necessary. Because the instances when additionalprotection is required are rare, it is not practical to provide unitaryheadprotective devices that afford complete protection, becauseinfrequent use does not justify the relative discomfort and restrictioncaused by devices that completely enclose the Wearers head.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide aneck-protecting shield that can be installed onto and removed fromsafety helmets without necessitating permanent modification of thehelmet, and without in any way impairing the strength of the helmet.This object is achieved by providing a neck shield that is formed fromresilient material of generally U-shape to conform'to the shape of thehelmet at the rear and sides thereof. The shield has along its upperedge an inwardly protruding lip that engages the rim of a helmet. Theshield has a coil spring or like elastic member spanning the free endsof the U-shaped shield to extend across the front of the helmet andretain the shield in place on the helmet.

Another object is to afford protection to the eyes and face withoutnecessitating permanent modification of the helmet. This object isachieved by providing a transparent face shield that is removablyattachable to the front portions of the neck shield. The neck shield isremovably secured to the helmet as described above; the face shield,since it is attachable to the neck shield, is thus similarly removablyattachable to the helmet. Because the face shield is removablyattachable to the neck shield, the neck shield can be used independentlyof the face shield should such be desired.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a helmet supplied with the protectivedevices of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showinga constructional detail of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a helmet with portions broken away toreveal internal details;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a neck shield;

FIG, 5 is a top view of the neck shield taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a face shield according to thepresent invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 12indicates a rigid or hard helmet of conventional form. The helmetterminates at its lower posterior and lateral edge in a rim 14, and hasat its forward or anterior portion a visor 16. Interiorly of helmet 12is a system of head-embracing straps 18 and a lining of energyabsorbingmaterial, such as sponge rubber 20. Such helmet is conventional and notnovel.

A neck shield 22 of generally U-shaped form is provided for extendingaround the lateral and posterior portion of helmet 12. The shield can bemade of any rigid, resilient, shatter-resistant material such as steel,aluminum, estherene, fiberglass reinforced resin, and the like. The neckshield includes front regions 22 that overlie the temples of the wearerand that afford protection to the cheekbones of the wearer. Rearwardlyof the portions 22] is a region in which are defined a plurality ofacoustic openings 24 which are in alignment with the ear of the wearerand parmit the wearer to hear. Extending around the posterior region ofthe head is a portion 26 that affords protection to the basal region ofthe skull and the neck. As can be seen most clearly from FIG. 4, thevertical extent of the shield 22 at posterior portion 26 is less thanthe vertical extent forwardly thereof so as to avoid interference withthe normal head movements of the wearer. The interior of the neck shield22 is lined with energy absorbent material, such as expandedpolyurethane foam, which forms padding and absorbs energy. The material28 is cut out as at 30 opposite acoustic openings 24' to form a soundpassage to the wearers ear. Moreover, cutout 30 forms a depressionopposite the wearer's ear so that the wearers ear is received in the cutaway portion and is not subjected to pressure from energy-absorbingmaterial 28.

Surrounding the upper edge of neck shield 22 is a reentrant lip 31 whichforms around the upper edge of the face shield a concavity 32 that iscomplementary with hat rim 12. Spanning the forward ends of neck shield22 is a coil spring 33, or a like elastic member, which coil springextends around the anterior portion of the helment above the visor 16.Neck shield 22 and spring 33 are proportioned so that the spring isstressed when the neck shield is in place on the helmet; consequently,the spring retains concavity 32 in embracing relationship to rim 14. Itwill be obvious that the neck guard can be removed by moving itrearwardly against the force of spring 33 until lip 31 clears rim 14 topermit disengagement of concavity 32 from the rim.

In many situations encountered by peace officers, face protection isdesirable. For the majority of occasions, however, face protection isunnecessary. As a consequence, a permanently installed face shield isnot practicable. For removably installing a face shield, the presentinvention includes at the forward upper region of neck shield 22fastening elements 34a and 34b. T-shaped bracket 35 having connectorelements 36a and 36b which are complementally engageable with connectorelements 34a and 34b is provided for attachment onto the neck shield.The end of the leg of T-shaped bracket 35 forms one element of aconventional pivotal joint 37, the other end of which is formed by arigid U-shaped bracket 38 which corresponds to the outer shape of visor16. Removably attached to the U-shaped bracket 38 is a transparentface-protective shield 40 which is retained onto U-shaped bracket 38 bymeans of conventional snap fastener member 42, a well-known expedient.

The vertical extent of T-shaped bracket 35 is sufficient to position theU-shaped bracket 38 at such vertical position that it contacts visor 16throughout the length of the U-shaped bracket. Such complete contact isdesirable in avoiding entry of foreign objects behind face shield 40.Connector elements 34a 34b, 36a, and 36b are not novel per se, but theirinclusion in the present invention is important in that they permit theneck shield 22 to be installed onto helmet 12 either with or without theface shield. The provision of two cooperating connectors on each side ofthe face shield bracket not only improves the security of mounting, butassures that pivotal movement will take place only at pivotal joint 37when the face shield is moved to an upper position, shown in brokenlines in FIG. 6.

Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides a neck shieldand a face shield that can be mounted onto and removed from existinghelmets without requiring any alteration of the existing helmets. Theneck shield and the face shield are of a relatively compact nature sothat they can be carried by peace officers and installed onto the helmetonly at such times as their employment appears necessary. The apparatusfor attaching the shields to a helmet is of sufiicient strength thatunintended removal of the shield is unlikely.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described,it will be obvious that other adaptations and modifications can be madewithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A neck guard for attachment to the rim of a rigid helmet of the typethat has a visor projecting forwardly thereof comprising a generallyU-shaped body of resilient material shaped to conform to the posteriorportion of the helmet so as to cover the basal region of the head, theback and sides of the neck, the ears, and the temples of the wearer;said U-shaped body having an integral portion thereof formed with aninwardly opening groove around the upper edge thereof from affordingengagement with the posterior portion of said helmet rim; and anelongate coil spring attached to the free ends of said body for spanningthe anterior portion of said met, said coil spring constituting the solemeans for retaining said neck guard on said helmet in order to affordready removal of said neck guard.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said body is lined with resilientcushioning material, portions of said cushioning material being cut outopopsite the ears of the wearer to define ear receiving cavities, saidneck guard being apertured at said cut out to form acoustic openings tothe exterior of said guard.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said body includes a pair of firstsnap members mounted adjacent the upper front region thereof, atransparent face shield, and means including second snap members thatare complementary with said first snap members for securing said faceshield onto said body.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said face shield securing meanscomprises an inverted T-shaped member having a horizontal leg and avertical leg projecting upwardly therefrom, said second snap membersbeing mounted on opposite ends of said horizontal leg, and means forminga pivot connection mounted on said vertical leg at a level correspondingto the helmet rim.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,364,662 1/1921 Wagner 232,963,708 12/1960 Herbine et al 210X 3,042,927 7/ 1962 Mauro et al. 2--33,239,842 3/1966 Marchello 23 3,436,760 4/ 1969 Molitoris 26 FOREIGNPATENTS 489,730 10/1918 France 2--10 helmet above the visor to retainsaid guard on said hel- A. R. GUEST, Primary Examiner

